Strip centering device for punch presses



l A.g 5, 1952 E. c. HoRToN 2,605,842

STRIP CENTERING DEVICE FOR PUNCH PRESSES Filed Feb. 28, 1950 f .Ww

Y V2A/f f @2 m l l BY ' www @24% f 'ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, '1.952'

same osN'rsnING DEVICE'FOBTUNCH PRESSES;

' Erwin c. Horton, Hamburg-QN. Y.-,fassig`i1wf Trico Products yCorporatioin,Bn-Halo, N,1Y.Y

Application February 2s, 195o, serialNo,r Massief This invention relates -towo'rk guides and is particularly directed to means for `centeringthe work piece in punch presses, stamping machines, and thelike. V

It is an object of the present invention to provide a work centering arrangement by which the work piece is properly positioned'with respect to theidier by and 'during the movement of .the punch relative thereto during the-'stamping operation. n y Y, I

A further object of this invention is to provide a work centering means which will guidework pieces of varying widths with equal facility.v

It is another object of this invention to provide a work centering means which will be simple, rugged, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparentk of Fig. 1, showing the operation of the device.

Similar reference numbers refer to similar parts in the several gures. l The punch press' anvil I is tted with the usual die pieces I2 having apertures lll. The work piece IB is shown in the form of a strip and may be fed longitudinally into the press either manually or automatically to position the strip over the dies l2. The press head 2i) has its punch members 22 carrying bits or pins 24. The passageways 26 are provided through anvil l for the disposal of the punchedout parts of the Work. 'Y

In accordance with the present invention means are provided to center or correctly position the work in the machine and thereby insure the strip being accurately processed. To this end there is mounted a substantially V-shaped cradle or position rectifying means i8 which cooperates With-the movable element of the press to shift 4a misplaced work piece into properregistry with Y the dies and punches. f

In the illustrated embodiment, the V-block or cradle I8 is formed with a rectangular pedestal 28. Pedestal 28 is bored at 3l! to receive a spring 32 which rests on the press base 313 and urges v claims. (o1. 1649-36) pedestal 28 andthe V-block IS upwardly. Such the anvil-'10. As is clearlyshown inthe drawingffthe-` anvil lll is formed to slidably 't vianges 36 and pedestalfZS, and-'is'slotted as at 80, to. slid- In operation, the V-block' I8 `l will serve 't 'cen'- lter the work pieceor strip I6` or push it intoa predetermined relation tof the punches, as :the vstrip is'fed' across the press.

' guides.

Although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the Work positioning device is resilently l mounted in the stationary member of the press,

it will be obvious that the Work positioning device could be carried by the moving member of the press without altering its mode of functioning. The term punch press is used herein as inclusive of stamping machines, and other like devices, the foregoing description being given in detail for clearness, and not by way ofk limitation since the inventive principles involved are applicable to other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention and its'scope as denecl in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l

l. A strip punching machine comprising an anvil having a fiat work supporting face formed with arrecess, a ram. a punch member on the ram, a cooperating die member on theanvil, and a receding work guide resiliently mounted in the anvil recess and having Work shifting faces converging toward the anvil and movable Within the anvil recess by and during the ram punching operation and yieldably acting in cooperation with the anvil to shift the work across the face of the anvil. Y

2. A strip punching machine comprising an anvil having a at horizontal work supporting surface formed with a recess, a vertically reciprocable ram, a punch member on therram, a cooperating die member on the anvil, and a downwardly receding work guide having downwardly converging work shifting faces, resilient means mounting said guide in the anvil recess in an elevatedWork-piece-receiving normal position projecting from the recess, said faces being movable Within the anvil recess by and during the ram punching operation from said normal position to a receded position wherein the Work piece rests on the surface oi the anvil embraced by the faces of the guide, the work piece being initially centered by gravity between the faces of the guide in the normal position thereof: and finally centered byA the cooperative cradling of the faces and the surface of the anvil as the guide recedes during the ram punching operation.

3. In a material forming press, afrst, Work.

piece engaging member and' a cooperating secl 0nd Work piece engaging member, said rst member being shaped at its Work piece engaging sur'- face to complement the proximateface of: the v Work piece, and a recedingfguide-having, afwork;v

piece engaging portion concave with' respect to the work piece to embrace the edge portions thereof, said guide beingresiliently mounted with said; portion projectingl past said surface.- and toward .i said "secondi: member, 1 whereby` during,A a

press"l koperation thej Workfpiece'. will seat in said .conca-ve' portiony ofssaidrg-uide and will bez forced by said `second member.` toward said'first member together with said' guide -unti-l. said Work piece restsagainst the complementing surfacel ofrsaid rst member While conti-nuing,. to be'embraced tolcomplement theproximateface of the Work Dieceito Abeprocessed, a'f--receding worlc pieceg-uide 4 having a Work piece locating portion shaped with respect to the Work piece to apply edge pressure thereto, said guide being mounted to project said portion past the Work engaging face of one of said members toward said other member and to recede to permit said members to come together with the Work piece between them and laterally located byl said portion" of said guide.'v

5. Av material formingpresscom'prising a first Work engaging member and an opposed cooperating second Work engaging member, said first member having its Work engaging face shaped to complement the proximate face of the Work to be processed, a receding work guide having a Work embracing portion .concave with respect to the Workrto'- apply edge pressure thereto, said guide being mounted to project said portion past the Work" engaging part of one of said members towar'd said other member and to recede to permit said members to come together with the Work piecebetweenthem and embraced by said por- -tionof saidgu-ide, said first member being formed tofperm-it movementof saidvguide portionvintersecting the plane of said Work engaging lface.,`

REFERENCES CITED i The. following references are of record inthe le of this patent: v 

